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Post by huub on Sept 22, 2005 12:07:35 GMT -8
Hi all,
I decided to try the mistral for diving today, but soon found out it breathes very heavy. i have got a draeger to compare, and the difference was too big. I've stripped it a couple of times to clean it, so changing the settings shouldn't be too difficult
So out with the manual and the screwdriver, so far no problem, but according to the manual the actuating arm should be 4 mm ""With the top of the plan superior of the case."" whatever that may be......
now this gets complicated, i can see a couple of possibilities : 4 mm above the bracket holding the arm? or 4 mm below the top of the big round housing? or even 4 mm above the big housing?
the arms were set at maximum height, (from new, i am the first owner, it has never been serviced) so i dropped them until the valve just opens fully.before the metal plate from the membrane hits the bracket. i will do a test dive next week to check if it makes any difference, but until then , anybody who can explain the proper way to set it up?
cheers,
Hubert
PS...taking it to a dive shop to have it serviced is not a option, first of all they wouldn't touch such a old regulator, and i don't thrust their work enough to have them work on a regulator they have never seen.
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Post by sea.explorer on Nov 4, 2005 8:03:31 GMT -8
I would recommend adjusting the lever to the diaphragm. In other words simply raise the lever until it just touches the diaphragm. When you tap on the diaphragm there should be no play before contacting the lever. If you raise the lever too high the reg. will free flow, and you will need to back down the lever a bit. This is how I work it and they breathe great. I have taken mine to very near the 200’ mark. Good Luck. -Ryan
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Post by Ron Hearn on Nov 4, 2005 8:09:45 GMT -8
Hi
If I do remember back when I took a double hose regulator course with Rudy Mola down in Florida at Diving Technologies, a ruller across the case and the lever ajusted just under the ruller or diaphram was sufficiant for aqua lungs.
Ron
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 4, 2005 8:55:23 GMT -8
As Ron said, the ruler across the top of the case was the way it was taught. I have found it better to raise the primary lever a bit higher, until it does touch the diaphragm and does not free flow. It is possible to have the lever touch the diaphragm and not be in the highest possible position, as the diaphragm usually has a bit of "slack" in it, and if it is resting diaphragm-up, it will go down a ways. So raise it until it starts free-flowing (sometime up to 0.5 cm above the case), then lower it slightly and put the bottom box back on. Compress the bottom box, and see if that initiates a leak. If it does, lower the levers slightly, and try again. Then (because you don't have to worry about box clips), put the clamp on the regulator boxes and tighten it down. Check again for leaks when on a tank of air, preferably at about 500 psi (as it is easiest breathing at that time, and it is possible that leaks would be seen due to diaphragm pressure).
One other thought occurs to me, and that is that you may be comparing the Royal Mistral with a two-stage regulator, in which case at high tank pressure the Royal Mistral will breath harder. Compare it at 500 psi and see if it is still harder than the Drager.
John
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Post by huub on Nov 5, 2005 12:47:27 GMT -8
Hi all,
thanks for the info, i eventually managed to find the info i was looking for, it should be set 4 mm above the face of the housing, and should be set with the regulator under pressure, so fitted to the bottle.
i tried lowering the settings to 4 mm below the case, wich i expected would breathe easier, ( due to the reduced angle on the levers ) but that didnt make much difference
next i will try to raise it as far as it will go without leaking.
still i managed a couple of nice dives last weeks, swapping between regulators to get a feel for the changes.
cheers,
hubert
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